Garment-clasp.



No. 792,717. 7 PATENTBD JUNE 20, 1905.

A. w. MENSOR & H. GREENBLATT.

v GARMENT CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31.1904.

A ie/vEY.

Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM W. MENSOR AND HYMAN GREENBLATT, OF SEATTLE,

l/VASHTNGTON.

GARMENT-CLASP- SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,717, dated June 20, 1.905.

Application filed August 31, 1904:. Serial No. 222,905.

T0 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ABRAHAM W. Manson and HYMAN Gun ENBLATT, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is directed to improvements in 'garment-clasps, and has especial reference to a double clasp of the above nature.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and compact garmentclasp which shall be of light weight, strong and durable, readily applied and removed, and capable of taking a firm hold on the garment without danger of tearing the same.

The above-mentioned and other desirable objects are attained by the constructions, com

binations, and arrangement of parts, as disclosed on the accompanying drawings,set forth in this specification, and pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings filed herewith and bearing like reference characters for corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is an edge View of the clasp, shown with both of the movable jaws in open position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of same shown with one of said jaws in closed position. Fig. 3 is a side view of the clasp. Fig. 1 is a view of the base part of the clasp looking at the inner side. Fig. 5 is an end view of same. Fig. 8 is a view of one of the jaws looking at the inner side. Fig. 6 is an edge view of one of the jaws. Fig. 7 is an end view of same, and Fig.

9 is a perspective view of one of the levers for operating the jaws.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 1O designates the base part of the clasp, which is essentially of elongated rectangular form and composed of thin plate metal. This base part is formed with a body portion 11, provided with a centrally-located opening 1 1 and having its end portions formed as jaws and curved longitudinally of the clasp to bring the free extremities of said portions inwardly toward the movable jaws of the device, and at each of said extremities a comparatively low gripping-lip 12 is provided which extends entirely across the same and consists of an inwardly-bent end extension of the section from which the base is formed. The free edge of the gripping-lip 12 is slightly convex, and the free or inner corners of said lip are well rounded, as at 12. (See Fig. 5.) Along the side edges of this body portion are inwardlyprojecting stiffening-flanges 13, consisting of side extensions of said section bent at right angles to said body portion. These flanges are formed of considerable width along their center portions, so as to embrace the stem portions of the movable jaws and prevent their catching in the garment, while the end portions thereof are each reduced in width and inclined along the free edge toward the adjacent end of the body portion 11, so. as to aiford clearance between the said edge and the body of the movable jaw for the portions of the garment held by the clasp when applied.

Movable jaws 15, formed of resilient metal, are slightly less in length than one-half of the base part 10 and are provided adjacent their inner ends with pintle-lugs 16, through which pintles 19 project. These jaws are curved outwardly longitudinally from their outer ends or gripping portions to a point adjacent their pivoted inner ends on a radius approximately equal to that of the opposite portions of base part 10 and have their side edges converging from their outer ends, so that the inner end portions of the jaws fit snugly between the flanges 13. Extending across the jaw at the gripping portion is a comparatively low gripping-lip 17, which consists of an end extension of the section from which the jaw is formed bent inwardly and formed slightly convex along the free edge and having the corners at the extremities of said edge well rounded. Adjacent the lip 17 bearing an inclined relation thereto and lying parallel therewith, is an inwardly-projecting gripping-lip 17 which is formed of suitable width for the free side edge thereof to lie just clear of the body portion of the base part 10 when the jaw\ is in closed position, with the body thereof resting against the free edge of lip 12. This lip 17' is somewhat shorter than lip 17, and it conveniently consists of a suitable portion of the body of the jaw cut free, excepting at the base edge, from said body and bent inwardly, so as to lie inclined slightly from said base edge toward the stem of the jaw, and the opening afforded in the jaw by cutting this portion free is extended toward said stem, with converging side walls to provide a substantially triangular-shaped opening 18, which affords opposite spring parts 18, connecting the stem and gripping portion of the jaw, and reduces the weight of the jaw.

The jaws 15 are oppositely disposed on the base part of the clasp, and the pintles 19,which engage the pintle-lugs thereof, are seated in the flanges 13 at suitable points to cause the end lips 17 of the jaws to lie just beyond the lips 12 of the base part, whereby the side edges of the gripping portions of the jaws will lie out of clamping relation and the outer surface of the stem portions of the jaws to lie flush with the free side edges of the center portions of said flanges when the jaws are in closed positions.

To close the jaws, L-shaped levers 20 are provided, which are of suitable width to fit freely in the opening 14 and are oppositely disposed with their footparts extending inwardly through said opening and their stem parts extending from each other and suitably curved to lie against the outer surface of the body portion 11,with the toes of the foot parts pressing against the inner surfaces of the free end portions of the stems of the jaws when said jaws are closed. These levers are fulcrumed on suitable pins 21, connected with the foot parts thereof at the side edges close to the heels and seated in suitable apertures provided in the flanges 13 adjacent their base edges.

About each pintle 19 a coiled spring 22 is placed which has the end portions extended toward the gripping end of the jaw, one of said end portions bearing against the body portion 11 and the other against the jaw, so that the spring tends to open the same.

This clasp is especially useful in supporting garments which are worn close to the body as, for example, to support the hose from the drawers or to take up portions of the shirtsleevesand it is applied when so used with the outer surfaces of the movable jaws facing toward the portion of the wearers body underlying the garment, so that the stem portions of the operating-levers will lie clear of said body.

To apply the clasp to support the hose,'for example, a portion of the hose is folded and placed between the movable jaw and base part at one end of the clasp with the folded edge between the pintle of the jaw and the lip 17. The operating-lever for said jaw is then moved to close the same, when the said lip will engage the garment adjacent the fold therein and press it against the body portion of the base part, while the garment will be also clamped between the lip 12 on said portion and the body of the jaw and pinched by said last lip and the lip 17 of the jaw between their opposing side surfaces. The opposite end of the clasp is then applied to the drawers in a similar manner, and when the clasp is in place it is evident that owing to the outward inclination of both movable jaws from the body of the wearer the ends of the clasp will be kept clear of same.

By curving the movable jaws and end portions of the body of the clasp inwardly we are enabled to materially reduce the thickness of the clasp at the ends and stil keep the bodies of said jaws and end portions well apart be- 3 tween the pintles and gripping portions thereof, and thereby aflord ample clearance for the garment at these points. Furthermore, by reducing the end portions of the flanges 13 in width the folded edge portions of the garments within the clasp will be left clear to fall across the inner side surface of the lips 17 as strain is imposed, thereby increasing the hold the clasp will have on the garments.

This clasp is simple and inexpensive of construction, presents a neat and pleasing appearance, and can be worn close to the body without danger of injuring the same. Furthermore, by forming the movable jaws from resilient material the clasp is rendered selfadjusting to varying thicknesses in gripping.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, 1s

1. In a garment-clasp, a pair of movablyconnected jaws adapted to lie out of clamping relation along the side edges of their gripping portions when closed, and each having an inwardly-projecting gripping-lip extending across the free end of said portion, said lips having smooth edges formed convex longitudinally.

2. In a garment-clasp, a pair of movablyconnected jaws, adapted to lie out of clamping relation along the side edges of their gripping portions when closed, and each having an inwardly-projecting gripping-lip extending in a straight line across the free end of said portion, said lips having their edges formed convex longitudinally, and one of said jaws having a second gripping-lip opposed to the inner surface of the body of the other jaw.

3. In a garment-clasp, a pair of movablyconnected jaws adapted to lie out of clamping relation along the side edges of their gripping portions when closed, and each having an inwardly-projecting gripping-lip extending in a straight line across the free end of said portion, said lips being adapted to overlap each other when the jaws are closed and having their edges formed convex longitudinally, and one of said jaws having a comparatively short IIO second gripping-lip opposed to the body of the other jaw.

4. In a double clasp, a base part comprising a rectangular body portion provided with a gripping-lip at each end and flanges at the side edges, and oppositely-disposed jaws pivotally connected with said flanges and formed with their body portions curving inwardly toward the gripping end portions and provided with gripping-lips on said portions, said jaws being adapted to lie when closed with their stem portions substantially flush with the free side edges of said flanges.

5. In a double clasp a base part comprising a rectangular body portion provided with a gripping-lip at each end and flanges at the side edges, said flanges being formed with the end portions reduced in height and having their free edges inclined toward the ends of said body portion, and oppositely-disposed jaws pivotally connected with said flanges and formed with their body portions curving inwardly toward the gripping end portions and provided with gripping-lips on said gripping portions, said jaws being adapted to lie when closed with the stem portions substantially flush with the free side edges of the center portions of said flanges.

6. In a double clasp, a base part comprising a rectangular body portion provided with an opening midway its length and having its end portions curving inwardly toward the free ends, an inwardly-projecting gripping-lip extending across each of said end portions, and

flanges along the side edges of said body portion, formed with their end portion reduced in height and the free edges thereof inclined toward the end of said body portion, oppositely-disposed jaws pivotally connected with said flanges and formed with their body portions curving inwardly toward the gripping end portions and provided with spaced-apart gripping-lips on said gripping portions, said jaws being adapted to lie when closed with their stern portions substantially flush with the free side edges of the center portions of said flanges, and oppositely-disposed L-shaped levers for said jaws fitting in said opening.

7 In a double clasp, a base part comprising a rectangular body part provided with an opening midway its length and having a transversely-disposed gripping-lip adjacent each end and flanges at the side edges, said flanges being formed with the end portions reduced in height, oppositely-disposed jaws pivotally connected with said flanges and provided with spaced-apart gripping-lips adapted to embrace said first lips, said jaws adapted to lie when closed with their stern portions substantially flush with the free edges of the center portions of said flanges, and levers for said jaws fitting in said opening.

Signed at Seattle, Washington.

ABRAHAM W. MENSOR. HYMAN GREENBLAT' WVitnesses:

EDWARD VoN TOBEL, W. P. REEsE. 

